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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Economics and Management · Communication, Co-ordination, Collaboration, Monitoring and Control

A junior accountant at a Mumbai firm notices an error in a budget figure but does not tell the finance director because he fears being blamed. Which barrier does this represent?

This is a personal barrier, based on fear and lack of trust. The junior withholds upward information because he worries about being blamed, so the problem lies in attitude and organisational climate, not in physical surroundings, language or technology, and an open, non-punitive culture would help.

  1. APersonal barrier arising from fear and lack of trust in upward communicationCorrect
  2. BPhysical barrier arising from poor lighting
  3. CSemantic barrier arising from a technical term
  4. DTechnological barrier arising from a server failure

Explanation

The accountant withholds information out of fear of the superior's reaction, which is a personal or psychological barrier affecting upward communication. Nothing in the case points to physical conditions, wording problems or technology failure.

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